Local Notes: Great victory for Ballinrobe Community School 1st years soccer team.
Ballinrobe Community School 1st year girls soccer team who defeated Ballyhaunis CS in the rain in Concannon Park, Claremorris last week.
The Dementia Cafe continues on the first Tuesday of every month in the Tacú Family Resource Centre, with the next scheduled meeting to take place on Tuesday, February 3 (today), from 11am to 12.30pm. Further details and information are available by contacting Marie on 087 1708706 or by emailing marie.philbin@alzheimer.ie.
The café provides a warm welcoming place for people to meet others also living with dementia/cognitive impairment, and their carers and health and social care professionals.
Further details and information are also available by visiting www.alzheimer.ie. The special guest at today’s meeting will be Ellis Wall, from Ellis Wall Wellness. Ellis is a psychotherapist and counsellor. All are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served.
The Ballinrobe Women’s Shed Group meets every Monday from 11am to 1pm, in the building adjacent to the Water Towers, Kilmaine Road, (Eircode F31 XK09). The group is open to women aged 18 and over. Those taking part can share their skills and talents, have a chat, and a cup of tea/coffee. New members are welcome. For further details and information you are asked to contact Monica at 087 4111343.
The Men’s Shed group meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10am to 12.30pm, in the building adjacent to the Water Towers, Kilmaine Road, (Eircode F31 XK09). This group is open to men aged 18 and over, with new members welcome. A range of activities take place including: music, woodwork, pottery, gardening, and is also open to men who just want to call in for a chat and a cup of tea/coffee. For further details and information you are asked to contact Monica at 087 4111343.
A public meeting will take place in Ballinrobe on Tuesday, February 10, which aims to highlight the challenges faced by wheelchair users and people with mobility issues in the town. The meeting will take place in the Crann Mór Centre (behind Youthreach, The Neale Road), at 8pm.
Last October an accessibility survey took place to highlight the daily challenges people with mobility difficulties are faced with and must deal with on a daily basis in Ballinrobe. Some of the challenges include broken and uneven footpaths, and accessible parking. There is also a need for additional pedestrian crossings.
The survey was initiated by Delia Costello and was in partnership with Ballinrobe Community School Transition Year students, under the guidance of Mr Shane Conlon, and in conjunction with Western Care (Crann Mór), the Ballinrobe Retirement Group, and several local wheelchair and mobility scooter users. Delia Costello is a person with a disability and is an advocate for accessibility in the community.
When the accessibility survey was completed, copies were issued to all relevant local stakeholders, including councillors, council engineers, and local political representatives.
However, a workshop, which was supposed to take place last November, never materialised.
In the absence of progress, the public meeting on February 10 aims to continue advancing the important and urgent issue of improving accessibility for people with disabilities in the town of Ballinrobe. All are welcome to attend the meeting, and invitations are extended to local representatives, Councillors, TD’s, relevant agencies, and media.
The results of a recent competition are as follows: 1st nett Marie Flanagan and Patrica Hennigan; 1st gross Paul Waldron and Marian O’Connor; 2nd Mary Kelly and Kathleen Nally; 3rd Joanne Hynes and Eileen Carney; 4th Lena Lowery and Maura McHugh; 5th Mary Gallagher and Mary Keane.
There was no winner of the €11,500 lotto jackpot draw which was held on Monday, January 26. The numbers drawn were 3, 5, 19 and 28.
Christina Hynes was the winner of €170 in last week’s 50/50 draw. The draw was conducted by the Tacú Family Resource Centre.
Food parcels are available for collection every Tuesday and Thursday at the Tacú Family Resource Centre, Main Street.
Registration for the 2026 season is now due. No training/playing will be permitted unless the registration is paid. For further details and information, you are asked to contact Breege at 087 7934133 or Irene at 086 8261305.
The club held its weekly 50/50 draw on Sunday, January 25, with Eileen O’Connor the winner of €560.
There was no winner of the €11,700 lotto jackpot draw which was held on Sunday, January 25. The numbers drawn were 14, 19, 22 and 27. The €50 winners were Rita Dolan, Ballyglass; Pat Hession, Frenchgrove, and Bridie Corcoran, Annfield.
Visit a new exhibition of art celebrating stories, symbols and Celtic myth on display in the Courtyard Gallery, Turlough Park. The exhibition has been developed by the Luisne Art Project - a nationally recognised and highly successful arts initiative for people with disabilities, based in Ballinrobe. Established in December 2005, the project is supported by Mayo County Council Arts Office and Western Care, with administrative support provided by Tacú, Ballinrobe Family Resource Centre.
The project’s mission is to offer a long-term, high-quality art programme that is responsive to the individual talents and needs of participants at the Crann Mór Centre. At its core, Luisne recognises the profound role that art and creativity play in fostering expression and building community. In 2025, the Luisne artists collaborated with art facilitator Noreen Lydon and guest mentors Michael Gannon and Ruby Staunton, exploring the rich tapestry of Celtic mythology. Drawing inspiration from ancient folklore and symbolic imagery, the artists worked with acrylics, watercolour, and gold leaf to create a body of work that is vibrant, and evocative. The result is Celtic Tales by Warrior’s Hand - a compelling collection that celebrates imagination and heritage. Each piece is a story, a symbol, a personal interpretation of Celtic myth rendered through the unique lens of the Luisne artists. Admission is free.
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Mayo Abbey Community Employment Scheme have vacancies in payroll, kitchen assistant and office administrator. Department of Social Protection eligibility criteria apply. Call Craig or Serena at Mayo Abbey Centre on 094 9365987 to find out more or email craig@mayoabbey.ie.
Mayo Abbey National School are currently accepting enrolments for the next school year 2026/2027. If you wish to enrol your child, find all the details on the website www.mayoabbeyns.com or contact the school by phone 094 9365644 or email office@mayoabbeyns.com.
The numbers drawn for the lotto on Tuesday, January 27 were 15, 16, 30 and 31. There was no jackpot winner. The €30 prizewinners were; Anthony Byrne, Keelan McNamara, Geraldine Joyce and Olivia Galvin. The jackpot in the draw to be held today, Tuesday, February 3, is €17,600.
A free full time professional cookery course will be starting soon in Mayo Abbey Centre. If you are aspiring to be a chef and want to train for a career in hotels, restaurants, schools, nursing homes, crèches, bakeries, patisserie, deli, cruise liners or self-employment contact Mayo Abbey Centre to find out more about the course. Participants may be eligible for a training allowance. Call 094 93 65987 or email training@mayoabbey.ie.
Why not call to the Community Coffee Morning every Thursday for a cuppa, a chat and some freshly baked scones. No booking is necessary. The social dinner takes place every Tuesday but must be booked in advance. A free computer/smartphone support for beginners is offered and there are hot desk spaces with fibre broadband connections suitable for virtual meetings or interviews available. It is also the ‘pick up and drop off’ point for the Local Link Bus Service which goes to Castlebar daily from Tuesday to Saturday and Claremorris every Thursday. The service is available to all and is free to travel pass holders. Book with Local Link 094 900 5150. Collection from your home may be possible by calling the Centre to find out more on 094 93 65987.
Why not go along on Thursday mornings and join the Mayo Abbey walking group. The walk starts from the community centre at 10.30am, and all are welcome to walk as little or as much as you like, but remember to bring a hi-vis. Call Ann on 086 605 7568 or call the centre on 094 93 65987 for information.
Parke Keelogues Crimlin GAA Club, in conjunction with Mayo Mental Health Association and The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park and Mayo AC are thrilled to announce February 15 for the 2026 Turlough 8K. Participants are encouraged to run, walk or jog during this event which sees huge participation each year and is very popular. All monies raised go back into Parke GAA Community Initiatives and Mayo MHA Schools Education Programmes. Link to register at https://eventmaster.ie/. Your support will be much appreciated.
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Results of the game played on Monday, January 26, 1st prize went to Peter O' Malley: 2nd shared by Peter Reynolds, John Walsh, Michael Moore and Sean Ryder; 3rd shared by; June Costello, Brendan Gibbons and Thomas Conroy. Raffle winners were Thomas Conroy, Vera Feeney, Sean Ryder and John Walsh. The game continues every Monday night in Islandeady Community Centre at 8.30am.
Weekly activities in Islandeady Community Centre are; cards at 8.30pm every Monday; Ladies Club meets every Tuesday at 8pm; the Rambling House every Tuesday at 7.30pm; Wednesday Get Together meets every Wednesday from 11.30am; and Foróige meets every Friday at 8.30pm.
Yoga classes continue every Wednesday evening in Jack’s Cottage starting at 6pm with Pregnancy Yoga and Yin Yoga from 7.30pm. Contact Emma on 087 997 3357.
In your Prayers you are kindly asked to remember the following who died: Christine O’Donnell, UK, sister of Dominick O’Donnell, Muckanagh; and Michael Murray, Derryharriff. May they both rest in peace.
